Second Opinion: Two sides to every medication

Tuesday

Apr 29, 2014 at 5:33 PMApr 29, 2014 at 5:33 PM

By Dr. Murray FeingoldDaily News correspondent

Medications can be life saving. They can relieve symptoms such as pain. They can treat and help prevent diseases. Our health would not be the same without them. But like everything else, there are two sides to the story. Despite all of their benefits, medications are also associated with many health issues.Allergic reactions to drugs are a serious problem. Certain medications may have a deleterious effect on the organs of the body. Some people become addicted to medications, especially drugs that are used to relieve pain.Even antibiotics have a significant downside. Not only can allergic reactions to the antibiotic take place, but bacteria can develop resistance to the antibiotic. An example is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA infections that can be deadly.With all of this as background information, itís a good time to talk about an ongoing medical controversy regarding giving medications to healthy individuals to prevent arteriosclerotic heart and vascular diseases. This is not a new concept because many people are now taking aspirin on a daily basis to prevent heart attacks.The drugs involved in this controversy are statin medications such as Lipitor and Zocor. There is an increasing number of researchers who are recommending the use of statins as a method to prevent diseases associated with high lipids and cholesterol.However, there are others who raise concerns about using statins for prevention. Is there enough evidence that they really decrease the mortality or death rate? What about the side effects? How costly would they be? And, for some scientists, there is a general aversion to using drugs for such a purpose.Some of the more recent studies have shown that there is a decrease in mortality rate with statins. Those in favor of using statins believe that, although there are side effects, the benefits outweigh the risks.In recent times, the cost of statin medications have significantly decreased.Although the best way to prevent heart disease is to eat a healthy diet and exercise, many individuals do not do this. Perhaps, to them, popping a pill each day is easier to do.So, itís time to discuss the pros and cons of taking statins as a preventative measure with your doctor. The decision may not be an easy one.Dr. Murray Feingold is the physician in chief of The Feingold Center for Children, medical editor of WBZ-TV and WBZ radio, and president of the Genesis Fund. The Genesis Fund is a nonprofit organization that funds the care of children born with birth defects, mental retardation and genetic diseases.